Advertising device



96L 1932- R. POLIAKOFF ET AL 1,880,210

ADVERTI S ING DEVICE Filed July 9. 192'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In uenzor Oct. 4, 193% R. PQMAKQFF ET AL ADVERTE S ING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Quest 2 Filed July 9, 1927 Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITED STATES PATET FEQE ROUVINE POLIAKOFF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND WILLIAM C. ROE, F DORMONT, PENNSYLVANIA; SAID ROE ASSIGNOR TO SAID POLIAKOFF ADVERTISING DEVICE Application filed July 9,

Our invention relates to improvements in machines for exhibiting or displaying cards, plates, panels or placards, having inscribed on their face or faces written, printed orillustrated matter descriptive of some event or circumstance, or for the purpose of advertising.

In the dissemination of news or lnformation and for advertlslng generally, show cards, posters and like means are at present in extensive use, but due to the fact that if of any considerable size they are generally stationary, and of themselves attract but passing notice, and unless the matter displayed thereon possesses special interest, they soon cease to be attractive to the public and consequently are inadequate to serve as advertising media.

The object of the present invention is to 1 b produce a device or machine that will over part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is the rear elevation of the machine.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective end view of the roller, showing the slide frame 3 and pawl that lifts the sheets to the-roller.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the roller showing the switch arm that-transfers the top rod over theback end of the rails.

Figure 4 is a left end view of the roll show ing, also, the timing mechanism;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view showing the right end of roll and driving shaft.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, 1, 1, indicate the two side walls of a '40 three-sided frame, in which the operating mechanism is supported. The front of said frame consists of a plate (not shown) the center portion of which, approximately the size of the display sheets, is cut out or'r'emoved to produce a view opening, the said opening being closed by a transparent glass sheet, or the entire frontmay be formed of transparent material. The said walls, 1, 1, are attached to said front at each side of said open- '50 ing, forming, as heretofore stated, a three 1927. Serial No. 204,548.

sided frame which is adapted to be secured in a box, if desired. Near the top on the inside and on opposite sides of said frame, rails or ways 5, 5, are secured or attached, the said rails being slightly inclined towards the front of the frame and the ends 5, 5, thereof adjacent to said front are turned upward to keep the rods 6 on which the display sheets 7 are supported, from being displaced, and terminate at a. point a short distance from the front. The said rods are inserted in loops formed along the upper and lower edges of said sheets, and the ends thereof project beyond the edges of said sheets a short distance.

Immediately above said ways 5, 5 a roller 8 is positioned and in the periphery of this roller two short pins 9 and 10 are inserted, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more specifically set forth. The said roller is rigidly mounted upon a shaft 11 j ournaled in the side walls, whereby when power is applied to said shaft the said roller is caused to revolve.

The rotation of said roller subserves two purposes, viz., for shifting or changing, the display sheets 7 and for operating the timing mechanism which controls the period of time during which said display sheets are exposed at the view opening. The length of the roller is somewhat greater than the rods 6 and its circumference about one-half the length of the sheets. It is obvious, therefore, that morethan one revolution of the roller will be required to shift or change thedisplay sheets or, in other words, carry the sheets entirely over the roller, and the required rotary movement of the roller toaccomplish this purpose is performed by an arrangement of two sets of gears 12, 13, mounted on each end of the roller. The said gears 12, 13, are ofa diameter slightly less than the radius of the roller and are pivoted on each end of said roller and are in mesh, the axis thereof being parallel with the axis of the roller; A four toothed star wheel 14 is mounted on said gear 13, and on the outside and near the periphery of the gear 12 is placed a pin 15 on which may be mounted a small roller (not shown) to reduce friction and wear; a flat spring 17 attached to the end of the roller and bearing against one tooth of the star wheel serves to bring the said wheel into one of its four positions, when rotated, and lock it from turning in a reverse direction; hooked members or pawls 18, rigidly mounted on the shaft 19, which is loosely journaled in the sides of the structure at the top thereof. The said shaft, when actuated by the timing mechanism, as hereinafter set forth, causes said pawls mounted thereon and in vertical alignment with the star wheels on the ends of the roll, to move towards said star wheels and at each revolution of the roll to engage one tooth of the said star wheels of a turn, the said spring tending to retard the wheel from turning a greater distance and to lock it against movement in an opposite direction, whereby the star wheel and the gears make one revolution for every four revolutions of the roller.

The reason for using two gears instead of placing the pin in the face of the star wheel is that the gear pin when in contact with other parts would tend to turn the star wheel in the same direction in which it'is rotated by the hooked member and the spring would be ineffective as a locking device.

The pin 15, 15 in the gears 12, 12 is so set that when the star wheel is locked in one position the pin will be the nearest to the periphery of the roller that it attains in its rotation, and on a line through the gear center and that of the roller. In this manner any member in line with the pin, when in its extreme position from the center of the roller, will be passed during three revolutions of the roller as the gears will be rotated one-fourth turn at each revolution, and the pin carried towards the center of the roller.

On the inside of the front plate and between the side plates is mounted a slidable frame 20, Fig. 2, which is adapted to slide vertically in-grooves. This frame carries two projecting members 21, on the top that contact with the pins 15, 15 in the gears'when in their outward position on the roller, also two pawls 22, just below the inside ends of the rails 5, 5 and in line with the ends of the said rods 6, in the display sheets.

The parts mentioned so coordinate that when the roller is rotated, the pins 15, 15 on the gears 12, 12 will contact with the under side of the projection 21 on the top of the slide frame 20 and carry the frame upward. During the upward movement of the frame the upper end of the pawls 22, approach the ends of the rod at the top of the front or first sheet and lift the rod and the upper end of the sheet up to and in contact with the roller8. Thepins in the face of the roller are so placed that when the rod in the upper end of the sheet contacts with the roller the pins will be immediately under the rod and will contact with and carry it over and to the rear of the roller. After the rod is hooked onto the pins 9 and 10 in the roller the pro- 'jecting member 21 on the upper end of the slide frame 20 is released from the pin on the gears 12 by the rotation of the roller and said gears and said frame 20 dropping resumes its initial position to carry successively each sheet over and to the rear of the roller. The rod in the end of the sheet is as described carried over by the roller and at the same time the pins 15-15 in the gears 12-12, which is in advance of the leading edge of sheet 7, contacts with the upper surface of arms 2323 which forces arms 2323 toward the face of roller 8 in line with the ends of rod 6 and in advance of said rod. The arms 23-23 are maintained in this position for the period of time necessary for rod 6 to advance and be deflected outwardly from the roller '8 and pins 9 and 10, sliding over the outer surface of arms 2323. The arms are held in this position by pins 1515 on gears 12 -12 until a substantial portion of sheet 7 is sup: ported upon them, whereupon pins 15 15 slide ofi cams 1515 the ends of the arms 2323, thereby releasing the arms and'allow them together with arms 23-23 to fall away from the roller surface. The two trans fer arms 23 are mounted on short shafts, supported in the side'of the frame andact as switches for the rods on which the sheets are mounted. They are so shaped that when in contact with the roller 8 they will lift the first or top rod of the sheets free of the roller andover the back ends of the rails 5, 5, and when in their normal position they guide the secondor bottom rod onto said rails. This operation throws the first rod and end of the sheet mounted thereon over and away from the back end of the rails and allows it to drop by gravity to the bottom of the frame. As the arms are restored to normal position before the rod in the opposite end of thesheets reaches this point, the second rod is carried down between the arms 23, 23 and the roller 8 onto the rails 5, 5 and thereby causing the other side of the sheet to be in position for display when engaged by the transfer roller 8.

As it requires more than one revolution of the rollerto bring the sheets over, the star wheel functions to carry the pins 15,15 in the gears away from their effective position during the succeeding three revolutions of the roller. It also requires more than one turn of the roller to carry the sheet over the same, and as the short pins 9 and 10 in the roller are effective for only one-half of its revolution, a second roller 25, is provided to press the sheets against the larger or main roller and hold the same in contact therewith at all time.

Thisroller 25, is about one-fourth the diameter of the main roller, and'is spring pressed "against the larger one. 'The surfaces of the rollers are preferably covered with rubber, although this is not essential. -The relation of are transferred over in less than four revolu tions of the roller and the speed of the roller during the inactive part of its cycle can be slowed down so as to expose the various sheets for a definite and pre-determined period of time. The transfer arms that are actuated by the pins in the gears transfer the top end of the sheet over the ends of the rails and also serve to push the series of sheets along the rails and towards the front of the frame aft-er the front or first sheet has been lifted, as shown in Fig. 3.

As the roller carries the top or upper edge of the sheets over the same, the bottom rod in the sheets passes up the glass panel and between the glass andthe end of the rails, the pawls on theslide frame pivoting and swinging back as it passes. When the roller is rotating continuously, the said sheets will be successively exposed to view through the glass panel and then carried over to the-rear, it being reversed so as to present the opposite side of said poster or placard to view during the next or succeeding cycle, depending upon the number of placards to be exhibited.

The rotation of said roller also actuates a timing mechanism Figs. 4: and 5 which consists of a train of ears, a set of levers and a cam, hereinafter more specifically described, and to accomplish this purpose the shaft 11, has mounted thereon at one end thereof, a sprocket wheel 26, through which power is transmitted to said roller from any suitable source of power, and through said roller to the timing mechanism actuated thereby. Upon the, opposite end of said shaft, a gear wheel 27 is mounted, which meshes with and transmits powerto a larger gear wheel 28. In the form of apparatus shown, the said wheels are geared in the ratio of four revolutions of said wheel 27, to one of said wheel 28. The said gear wheel 28 is mounted on a short shaft 29, secured in one of the side walls of the frame, upon which a small gear wheel 30 is mounted, which meshes with and transmits power to the large gear wheel 31, mounted on a short shaft 32, likewise journaled in said side wall. Upon the extreme outer end of said shaft 32, is mounted a small gear wheel 33, which meshes with and transmits power to the large gear wheel 34L, mounted on the short shaft 35, upon the extreme outer end of which is mounted the cam 36. The gear mechanism and cam just described in conjunction with the horizontal lever 37, one end of which is pivotally mounted in the frame, and the vertically disposed lever 38, the lower end of which is pivotally mounted in said frame, constitute the timing mechanism which controls the period of time during which the placard or panel is exposed stationary at the view opening. The said cams have projecting from their periphery one or more lugs a, b, which when either thereof contact with the lug c on the lower edge of the lever 37, serve to lift the same out of engagement with the pin (Z in the side of the lever 38 and permits the same to swing on its pivotal connection for the purpose of releasing the pawl 18 which permits the hook on the pawl to engage the star wheel for four revolutions of said roller, at the end of which the pin 1) on gear 28 will engage the inclined inner edge of the lever 38, throwing the same forward into contact with the lower end of the arm X rigidly mounted on the shaft 19, thus rotating said shaft 19 and the pawls 18 which ":3

are rigidly secured to said shaft at opposite 7 ends thereof, a sufficient distance to disengage the said pawls from the star wheels thereby throwing the same out of engagement with the star wheel. ing into engagement with the pin on the lever 38, locks it in inoperative position dur-' ing and following the revolutionsof the roller, or until the lever 37 is again operated by the cam. By substituting cams with one or more lugs the period of exposure of the sheets can be changed.

Having described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an advertising device, the combination of a frame having a view opening therein, a roller mounted in said frame, a series of display sheets suspended beneath said roller and adjacent to the view opening, guides on which said sheets are successively arranged, means to actuate said roller, means actuated by said roller to successively withdraw said sheets from said view opening, and means adjacent to therear of said roller to engage and remove each sheet from the roller at predetermined intervals and cause said sheets to pass to the rear of the series of sheets on said guidesand in a reverse position.

2. In an advertising device the combination of a frame having a view opening therein, a roller mounted in said frame, a series of display sheets suspended beneath said roller and adjacent to the View opening, guides on which saidsheetsare successively arranged, means to actuate said roller, means actuated by said roller to successively withdraw said sheets from said view opening, said means including means to elevate said sheets and reverse the face thereof, the said means including a vertically, movable frame for conveying said sheets at successive intervals on to said roller and guide arms positioned at the rear of said roller for positioning the sheets successively on the guides after each The lever 37 fallengage the said sheets and elevate the-same to the roller, means to position the said sheets upon the ways, including arms positioned immediately to the rear of said roller.

4:. In an advertising device, a series of sheets having display matter on their opposite faces, opposed rails from which said sheets are suspended, a roller journaled above sa-id'rails, sheet supporting means on said roller, means for operating said roller, means for successively lifting said sheets at predetermined intervals from said rails onto the supporting means of theroller, whereby each sheet is carried around the latter to an inverted position at the rear of the series, and

j means for transferring said sheets from the roller onto said rails.

5. In an advertlsing device, a series of sheets having display matter on their opposite faces, opposed rails from which the sheets are suspended, a roller journaled above said rails, means for operating said roller, sheet supporting means on said roller, means actuated by the roller for successively lifting said sheets from said rails onto the said supporting means of the'roller, whereby each sheet is carried around the latter to an inverted position at the rear of said series, and means actuated by said roller for transferring said sheets from the latter onto the said rails.

- 6. In an advertising device, a series of sheets having display matter on their opposite faces, opposed rails from which the sheets are suspended vertically, aroller journaled abovesaid rails, sheet supporting means carried by the roller, saidsheets being singly exposed to view while suspended from said rails, timing mechanism operated by said roller for regulating the time duringwhich each sheet is exposed to view, means for successively lifting said sheets from said rails onto said supporting means of the roller, whereby each sheet is carried around the latter to an inverted position at the rear of the series, and means for transferring said sheets from the roller onto the rails. I

7 In an advertising device, a series of sheets having display matter on their opposite faces, opposed rails from which said sheets are suspended vertically, a roller journaledabove said rails, sheet supporting means carried by the'roller, means for successively lifting said sheets at predetermined intervals from said rails onto said supporting means of the roller, whereby each sheet is carried around the latter to an inverted position at the rear of the series, and means controlled by said roller for transferring the sheets from the roller onto said rails, and including vertically disposed arms mounted for movement toward and away from said roller at predetermined intervals.

-8. In an advertising device, a series of sheets having display'matter on their opposite faces, opposed'rails from which said sheets are suspended vertically, a roller journaled above said rails, sheet supporting means carried by said roller, means for successively lifting said sheets at predetermined intervals from said rails onto the supporting means of the roller, vwhereby each sheet is carried around the latter to an inverted position at the rear of the series, vertically disposed arms arranged at the rear of the rollv ers and normally spaced therefrom, said arms being mounted for movement toward and away from said roller, and means for moving said arms against the roller as the sheet approaches said arms, said arms returning to their normal position when released from said means, whereby said arms function to guide one end of the sheet onto the adjacent ends of said rails.

9. In an advertising device, a series of sheets having display matter on their opposite faces, opposed rails from which said sheets are suspended vertically, a roller journaled above said rails, sheet supporting means on said roller, a rotatable gear mounted on each end of the roller, a pin carried by said gear, pawl and ratchet mechanism for rotating said gear a predetermined distance during each revolution of said roller to regulate the position of said pin, means including said pin for successively lifting said sheets at predetermined intervals from said rails onto said supporting mean of the roller, whereby each sheet is carried around the roller to an inverted said roller, gears journaled on the ends of the roller, a pin carried by one of each set of gears, pawl and ratchet mechanism for rotating said gears a predetermined distance during each revolution of the roller to control the position of said pins, means including said pin for successively lifting said sheets from said rails onto the supporting means of the roller, whereby each sheet is carried around the latter to an inverted position at the rear of the series, and means actuated :15

by said pins for transferring each sheet from the roller onto said rails in an inverted position.

11. In an advertising device, a series of sheets having display matter on the opposite faces, opposed rails from which said sheets are suspended vertically with the outermost sheet in display position, a roller 1' ournaled above said rails, timing mechanism 0perated by said roller to regulate the time during which each sheet is exposed, sheet supporting means on said roller, a gear journaled on each end of the roller, a pin carried by each gear, means including a pawl and ratchet for rotating said gears a predetermined distance during each revolution of the roller to control the position of said pins, a vertically movable frame intermittently lifted by said pins to remove said sheets singly from the rails onto the supporting means of the roller, whereby each sheet is carried around said roller to an inverted position at the rear of the series, and mean for transferring said sheets from the roller onto said rails.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto signed our names.

ROUV[NE POLIAKOFF. WILLIAM C. ROE. 

